Research: Scientists and doctors at an Irish university have discovered a new method of fighting infection that they claim could reduce the need to use antibiotics.Discovery could reduce theneed for antibiotics
The research was revealed last Friday at a conference in University College Cork (UCC) by Prof Colin Hill.
Prof Hill and a large team of scientists and doctors have been working on the new method of using bacteria to fight bacteria.
The method uses the body's natural defences to target bacteria that cause conditions such as stomach ulcers and other ailments.
Medics dealing with gastrointestinal problems are said to be particularly interested in the research at the UCC's Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre.
"There are 10 times more bacteria in our bodies than human cells - they play a massive part in our lives but we don't really understand it," said Prof Hill.
At present, according to Prof Hill, the medical world has the mindset that bigger, better, more powerful drugs will solve the problem - the Cork researchers are bucking this trend and working on the belief that the body itself is the best defence.
"In the real world bacteria do not live in test tubes - they have to battle for whatever niche is available.
"They are forever battling and killing each other - it's the natural way.
"We are trying to exploit this and use the bacteria to kill the ones we are looking at," he said.
One of the inspirations for the research was the discovery that bacteria caused stomach ulcers.
Australians Barry Marshall and Robin Warren made the discovery two decades ago and were awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine last week.
The researchers hope to eliminate the problem of antibiotic resistance.
During his presentation, Prof Hill said that a "dearth of novel antimicrobials, combined with the emergence of multi-resistant 'superbugs', puts patients in danger of returning to the pre-antibiotic era".
The worst case scenario would be that minor infections could kill.
"Antibiotics don't take advantage of the immune system. Antibiotics just try to kill the target bacteria but they kill everything around it as well.
"That causes as many problems as it solves - people can get diarrhoea and other infections because they kill the natural flora.
"We are trying to help with, and I hate this word with a vengeance but, a holistic approach.
"It is wrong to help someone by throwing a grenade - we want to intervene," he added.
The group has patented the discovery and is now looking for large companies to help fund the next stage of the research - clinical trials.
"We're desperately excited by it - this is really something unique. We have a fantastic mix of people who are really research driven and are not just about treating patients, taking the money and running.
"It is a unique opportunity to work on something that isn't being replicated anywhere else in the world," he added.
Prof Hill was talking at the Innovation in Medical Science - Contributing to Our Culture seminar in UCC, which was held on Friday.
The seminar saw 10 of the world's top doctors and scientists discuss the latest advances in matters such as obesity, asthma and the relation of stress to cardiovascular disease.
The conference was hosted by UCC's Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, in association with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (this year celebrating its 350th anniversary), and the Irish Association of Internal Medicine.